1992 – New Hyde Park, New York
Bernadette Castro is the Commissioner of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Commissioner Castro ran her family’s business, Castro Convertibles, up until 1993 and in 1994 was the Republican-Conservative candidate for the US Senate. Her father was an Italian immigrant who learned English at night and opened a re-upholstery shop, which later became Castro Convertibles. Business boomed when Bernard Castro aired television commercials starring his 4-year-old daughter, Bernadette. It was the beginning of her public life. Bernadette graduated from the University of Florida with a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism and a master’s in Educational Administration with Phi Kappa Phi honors. She was the first woman to receive the University’s Distinguished Alumni Award. A resident of Long Island, she has long been involved in civic, charitable and community service organizations, among them the Hofstra University Board of Trustees and the New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center Advisory Board. Among the recognitions of her community service and business success; Ellis Island Medal of Honor, Honorary Doctor of Laws from St. Joseph’s College, 1992 “NAFFE” Award, Wharton School Club of Long Island Businesswoman of the Year, National Italian-American Foundation Achievement in Business Award, Zionist Organization Justice Lewis D. Brandeis Award, Long Island Business Sky Island Club Hall of Fame, Angel Guardian Home Women of the Year, Long Island University Outstanding Woman in Business Achievement. Bernadette Castro is married to Dr. Peter M. Guida, Professor of Surgery at New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center. She has four children.
